Priming attachment for shell loaders



Oct. 1, 1963 A. v. SCHLAPPICH, JR 3,105,409

PRIMING ATTACHMENT FOR SHELL LOADERS Filed-Sept. 21, 1960 30 s Sheets-Sheet 1 25 I2 H 4 Q 55 74 80 a2 64 62 [,1 IGJQ lR/Q ARV Fig. 3

Arthur V. Sch/app/c/r, Jr.

INVENTOR.

BY QM Oct. 1, 1963 A. v. scHLAPPlcH, JR 3,105,409

PRIMING ATTACHMENT FOR SHELL LOADERS Filed Sept. 21, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 i 8 Fig. 7

Arthur M .Sc/r/appic/r, Jr.

1N VEN TOR.

Y WWW a new primer.

proper positioning of the reprimed.

United States Patent 3,105,409 PRIMING ATTACHMENT FGR SHELL LOADERS Arthur V. Schlappich, In, 840 Lancaster Ave, Reading, Pa. Filed Sept. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 57,476 15 Claims. (CI. 86-38) This invention relates to a novel but simple attachment especially designed for shotgun shell loader press apparatus for the purpose of handling and loading of shell primers which are difiicult to manually handle.

Shotgun shells require a plurality of operations thereon for loading purposes. Press operated mechanisms have accordingly been provided heretofore having a plurality of stations at which the shotgun shell is positioned for performing the various operations thereon in order to load the shells. Accordingly, paratus the shotgun shell is positioned in a first station in which the primer thereof is removed or deprimed and the shell casing resize-d. The shell is next placed in a priming station in order to reprime the shell casing with The next station for the shell is to position it beneath a powder charging drop tube for properly filling the shell casing with powder. Wadding is next placed above the powder within the shell casing and pressure applied thereto. Next a filler wad is placed over the previous wad and pressure applied thereto. The shell casing is then positioned beneath a shot drop tube for admission of shot above the wadding. The shell is finally placed within a crimping sleeve and the assembly-then operated upon by the press apparatus to crimp the top of the shell and thereby perform the final loading operation for the shotgun shell. The press apparatus for performing the foregoing operations accordingly has a base plate surface upon which a plurality of stations for the shotgun shell are defined. The shell in the various stages of loading are therefore either positioned at the stations or manually raised to a plunger of the press apparatus. The second station hereinbefore mentioned on the press apparatus is one in which the shell casing is reprimed with a new primer. In this latter station therefore, a primer one form of loader ap-.

must be positioned within a seating assembly so that upon bottom of the shell casing thereabove, the new primer may be inserted into the bottom of the shell casing.

Heretofore in the loading apparatus for shotgun shells, the primers have been manually positioned with the base down on the seating assembly of the press base plate and the shotgun shell casing positioned thereover for repriming purposes. Difficulty has been encountered therefore in handling of the small size primer manually. The ob- "ice will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a typical shotgun shell loader apparatus with the attachment of this invention applied thereto.

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view of the attachment applied as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an adapter member for the attachment shown in FIGURES 1 through 3.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 2 but illustrating the attachment in actuated position.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG- URE 2 but illustrating another form of adapter member for the attachment of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a partial side elevational view of the attachment illustrated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 88 in FIGURE 7. 7

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the stop element.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the second form of adapter member. 7

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the slide element.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 illustrates the attachment of this invention generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 applied to a presstype of shotgun shell loader generally indicated by reference numeral 12. As was hereinbefore indicated, the

shell loader mechanism 12 is of the type which includes a base member 14 upon which a plurality of stations are located, at which stations a shotgun shell casing is positioned for performing operation thereon such as depriming a spent primer therefrom and repriming the shell easing with a new primer. The stations are located on the base member 14 which in the illustrated mechanism 12 is constituted by a raised sheet metal surface. It will also be noted that the mechanism 12 includes a depriming and resizing plunger mechanism 16 which cooperates with the depriming station on the spaced member 14 upon which 'a shell casing is positioned to remove the spent primer therefrom. As seen in FIGURE 1 therefore the depriming plunger mechanism 16 is aligned with a depriming station 18 on the base member 14. A second plunger mechanism 20 is also provided by the mechanism 12 for the purpose of cooperating with the shell casing positioned on a priming station 22 for repriming jective of this invention therefore is to provide a rela-- tively simple but effective'attachrnent which may be applicable to various different types of shotgun shell loading apparatus, which attachment not only will store the primers therein" but also accurately and rapidly position a single primer within the seating assembly of the press apparatus so that the shotgun shell casing may be placed thereover for. repriming.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an attachment for shotgun loading press apparatus of different designs for storing, handling the new primer for positioning thereof within the seating assembly so that the shotgun shell may be Another object of this invention in accordance with i the foregoing object is to provide an attachment for loaders of different designs requiring a mini-mum of modification, if any, in order to apply the attachment of this invention.

These together with other objects and advantages which loading and otherwise the shell casing with a new primer. The mechanism 12 is also provided on its turret plate 24 with other plungers and tubes for powder and shot charging and wad placement within the shotgun shell. A press actuating handle member 26 is therefore provided on the mechanism 12 for operating the plunger mechanism. Also provided atop the mechanism 12 is a powder containing container 23 and a shot container 30 which containers may be appropriately related by means of a pivoted bracket mechanism 32 with charging tube 36 for the purpose of loading the shell casings with powder and shot by moving slide mechanism 32 to the left or right. 54 is a rod to eject the shotgun shell from the resizing die. The attachment of this invention, however, is primarily concerned with the repriming operation.

The attachment 10 therefore is attached to the sides 38 of the base member 14 for the particular type of loader 12 illustrated in FIGURE 1. The attachment lll will therefore be in alignment with the repriming station 22 for the purpose of positioning thereon a new primer.

Reference may therefore be made to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 in particular. The adapter member generally indicated by reference numeral 49 as more particularly seen in FIGURE 4 includes a lateral attaching portion 42 which fits up against the side 38 of the base member 14 and is attached thereto by bolts which extend through apertures 44. The adapter member 40 is also provided with a portion 46 which extends perpendicular to the portion 42 away from the base member 14 upon which portion 46 the supporting body member 48 of the attachment It) is mounted. Apertures 50 are therefore provided on the portion 46 of adapter member 40 for the purpose of receiving therethrough a pair of spaced bolt members 52 and 54 for attaching the body member 48 to the adapter portion 46. Accordingly, the body member 48 of the attachment may be accurately aligned with respect to the priming station 22 on the base member 14 of the mechanism 12.

It will be observed that the body member 48 includes a horizontal and laterally extending portion 56 which portion 56 is supported upon the portion 46 of the adapter member 40. The portion 56 of the body member 48 also therefore includes threaded apertures 58 and 60 for respectively receiving the spaced bolts 52 and 54. The body member 48 is thereby securely mounted on the adapter 40. It will also be observed that a longitudinal slide recess 62 is formed within the portion 56 of the body member 48 opening downwardly and closed by the portion 46 of the adapter 40. The slide recess 62 therefore is provided for the purpose of slidably receiving a slide member 64. Integral with the horizontal portion 56 of the body member 48 is an upright portion 66 which is disposed adjacent to the top surface of the base member 14 with the forward face surface 68 thereof in alignment with the priming station 22. Accordingly, the slide member 64 will extend out from the recess 62 of the body member 48 when actuated to move over the priming station 22 as will hereafter be explained. The upright portion '66 of the body member therefore includes an elongated aperture 70 through which primers 72 are received for loading into an aperture 74 in the slide member 64. A tube '76 is therefore inserted into the upright portion 66 of the body member 48 in alignment with the aperture 70 therein, within which tube 76 the primers 72 may be stored. It will therefore be observed that the primers 72 are gravity fed into the aperture 74 of the slide member 64. The length of the vertical tube 76 will therefore determine the number of primers that may be stored in the attachment 10.

From the foregoing therefore, it will be observed that the aperture 74 within the slide member 64 is disposed at the end of the slide member adjacent the base member 14. Referring therefore to FIGURE 11 in particular it will be observed that the slide member 64 may be rectangular in cross-section for slidable reception within the recess 62 of the body member although the particular crosssectional configuration may vary as long as the slide member is confined to slidable movement and corresponds to the shape of the recess Within the body member and is of sufficient extent for accommodating the aperture 74 for receiving the primers 72. Also disposed intermediate the ends of the slide member 64 is an elongated slot 78, the spaced bolt members 52 and 54 extending through said slot as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 for the purpose of limiting the slidable movement of the slide member 64 in both directions. It will also be observed from FIGURES 2 and 3 that a knob member 89 is disposed at that end of the slide member 64 opposite the end at which the aperture 74 is disposed for the purpose of manually actuating the slide member against the bias of a spring element 82 which is disposed between the knob member 80 and the body member 48 from which the slide member 64 ex tends. It will be observed in FIGURES 2 and 3 that the spring element 82 biases the slide member 64 to one position in which the aperture 74 thereof is in alignment with the aperture 70 extending through the body member portion 66 so that the slide member may receive a primer 72 from the storage tube 7 6. Accordin ly, it will be apparent that upon actuation of the slide member 64 by the knob 86 against the bias of the spring 32 to a position illustrated in FIGURE 5 a single primer 72 may be carried over the priming station 22 for proper positioning thereof. When properly positioned, the primer will sit in the recess 4% and clear the siide 64 as shown in FIG- URE 5 for withdrawal of the slide by spring 82 when released.

Referring therefore to FIGURES 2, 3 and 5 it will be observed that the priming station 22 is defined by a primer seating assembly 84. The seating assembly 84 is disposed within an aperture in the base member 14 and includes a shell casing recess 86 within which the primer is dropped by the slide member 64 when actuated to the primer loading position illustrated in FIGURE 5. The recess 86 therefore also includes the primer seating recess 88 for receiving the base portion of the primer in coaxial position with respect to the recess 86 within which a shotgun shell may be inserted for repriming purposes. It will also be observed that the seating assembly 84 includes a rim 90 within which the priming station 22 is defined. The rim 9th is therefore provided with a guide slot 92 for receiving the slide member 64 therethrough. Accordingly, the attachment 10 may be accurately aligned with the priming station '22 by inserting the slide member 64 through the guide slot 92 before tightening of the attaching bolts.

On some loader mechanisms the recess 88 of the seating assembly '84 which receives the base of the shotgun shell, may project slightly above the rim 90. In such a latter case, a spacer strip may be installed between the slide 64 and portion 46 so as to clear the projection above the rim 90.

It will also be observed that the slide member 64 must be actuated a predetermined distance over the base member 14 in order to align the aperture 74 thereof with the recess 88 of the seating assembly 84 in order to properly position the primer 72 therein. Only then will the primer clear the slide so that the slide may be withdrawn, it being appreciated that premature release of the slide will be prevented by the primer extending between the recess 86 and the slide aperture 74.

A stop mechanism is therefore provided for accurately determining for the operator the position to which the slide member 64 must be positioned for primer loading purposes. Accordingly, the bolt member 60 extends upwardly through the body member and is received within a slot 94 of a stop element 96 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 9. A wing nut member 98 is therefore provided in order to a'djustably secure the stop element 96 on the body member at the proper position for limiting inward movement of the slide member knob 80 to the proper primer loading position. The stop element 96 therefore includes a downwardly depending portion 100 which abuts against the knob '80.

From the foregoing it will :be appreciated that the adapter member 40' which secures the body member 48 of the attachment 16 to the base member of the press apparatus 12 may be varied in configuration in order to enable one to apply the attachment to other designs of loader mechanisms 12. Attention is therefore invited to FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 10 wherein another form of adapter member 102 is utilized for attaching the attachment 10 to the base member 104 of a loader mechanism of another design. It will be observed that the attachment 10 is identical to the previously described attachment, the only difference existing in the adapter member 102 and the means by which the attachment is mounted on the base member 104. The base member 104 also includes a similar seating assembly 84 which defines a priming station, the base member 104 also being illustrated in FIGURE 6 with a depriming station 106. It will be noted from FIGURE 10 in particular that the adapter member 102 includes a portion 108 inprinciples of the invention.

and 54 extend for attaching the adapter member 102 to the body member 48 of the attachment. The adapter member 102 may merely clamp the attachment to the base member 104 by means of the clamping portion 112 thereof. It will therefore be observed that the clamping portion 11-2 includes a large aperture 114 within which the bottom of seating assembly 84 is received. A setscrew 116 threadedly engaged within an aperture 118 in communication with enlarged bore 120 therefore accurately clamps the adapter member 102 to the seating assembly 84 and over the edge of the base member 104 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 6.

It will also be observed that the end of the portion 112 of the adapter member 102 remote from the attachment body 48 is disposed beneath the base member 104 and includes a threaded aperture 122 which is in alignment with an aperture 124 in the base member 104 which aperture 124 defines the depriming station. A bolt member 126 is therefore threadedly received within the threaded aperture 122 which bolt member includes a passage 128 therethrough in alignment with the aperture 124 in the base member 104 at the depriming station 106. Accordingly, spent primers ejected from the shell casing may fall through the aperture 124 and the passage 128 of the bolt member 12 6. The bolt member 1 26 includes a head portion 130 to which a catcher bag may be attached for receiving the spent primer and avoiding thereby falling of the spent primers to the floor. A drawstring type bag may therefore conveniently be attached about the bolt head 130 for such purpose. It will therefore be apparent that in this latter form of adapter member, the attachment may be mounted on the base member by means of the seating assembly and also conveniently provides means for catching spent primers from the depriming station operation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A primer handling attachment in combination with a shotgun shell loader having a primer loading station on a fixed base fixedly mounting a primer seating assembly at said station for receiving a shell casing for aligned insertion of a primer, comprising attachment support means, selectively actuated slide means slidably mounted within said support means, means biasing said slide means to one position retracted within said support means, elongated primer storage means mounted in said support means and extending upwardly therefrom, aperture means formed in said slide means for alignment with said storage means when the slide means is in said one position to receive a primer, attaching means connectible to said support means and base of the shell loader for fixedly aligning the slide means with the primer loading station, said primer seating assembly including an upstanding rim having guide means slidably engaging the slide means for accommodating extension of the slide means from the attachment a recess means formed in the seating assembly to release the slide means for withdrawal by the biasing means.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said support means includes a bottom portion extending laterally away from the base and having a sli de recess formed in a bottom surface thereof to receive the slide means and an upright portion disposed adjacent to said base for mounting the primer storage means.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said primer storage means includes an elongated tube extending upwardly from the upright portion for receiving primers and delivering them by gravity to the aperture means in the slide means.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said slide means includes the aperture means adjacent one end within the support means, an actuating knob mounted at the other project-ing end of the slide means and a slot disposed intermediate the ends of the slide means through which spaced attaching bolts extend for limiting movement of the slide means relative to the support means, said attaching bolts also securing the support means to the attaching means.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said stop means includes nut means cooperating with one of said spaced bolts for adjustable positioning of the stop means on the support means, said stop means being engageable with the actuating knob for limiting inward movement of the slide means against the bias of a spring disposed about the slide means between the knob and the support means.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said attaching means includes a support portion attached to the support means and cooperating with the support means to receive the slide means and :an attaching portion secured to the base of the shell loader.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said attaching portion extends laterally away from one side of the support means for securing the support means to the base.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said attaching means includes a support portion attached to the support support means over the loading station on the base to means mounted on the support means and engageable with the slide means for adjustably limiting said extension of the silde means to a primer loading position wherein the primer in the aperture means of the slide means drops into means and cooperating with the support means to receive the slide means and an attaching portion secured to the base of the shell loader.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said attaching portion includes clamp means for attaching the attachin g means to the base.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said clamping means comprises setscrew means in the attaching portion for clamping engagement with the seating assembly.

12. The combination of claim 11, including bolt means threadedly received by the attaching portion below the base and in alignment with a depriming station on the base, passage means extending through the base and bolt means for receiving spent primers deprimed at the depriming station, and adapted to removably mount a catcher.

13. The combination of claim 1, wherein said support means includes a bottom portion extending laterally away from the base and having a slide recess formed in a bottom surface thereof to receive the slide means and an upright portion disposed adjacent to said base for mounting the primer storage means.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said attaching means includes a support portion attached to the support means and cooperating with the support means to receive the slide means and an attaching portion secured to the base of the shell loader.

15. In combination with a shotgun shell loader having a stationary surface portion fixedly mounting a shell seating assembly, said seating assembly including an upstanding rim defining a primer loading station on said stationary surface portion with a centrally disposed primer seating recess therein; a primer loading attachment comprising, a supporting body removably attached to the stationary surface portion, a manually projected slide member slidably mounted by the body for movement within 7 limits between a retracted position and an extended position above the primer loading station on the stationary surface portion, means biasing the slide member to the retracted position, primer storage means mounted on said body, said slide member having a primer receiving aperture therein aligned with the primer storage means when the slide member is in the retracted position, said upstanding rim of the shell seating assembly having a guide slot through which the slide member is projected to carry a primer in the primer receiving aperture toward seating alignment with said seating recess in the seating assembly when the slide member is displaced toward said extended position, said seating recess being spaced from the slide by an amount dimensionally exceeding the primer to 5 aligned with the seating recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,031,850 Peterson Feb. 25, 1936 2,136,459 ONeil Nov. 15, 1938 2,748,648 Miller June 5, 1956 2,794,359 Lyman et a1 June 4, 1957 

1. A PRIMER HANDLING ATTACHMENT IN COMBINATION WITH A SHOTGUN SHELL LOADER HAVING A PRIMER LOADING STATION ON A FIXED BASE FIXEDLY MOUNTING A PRIMER SEATING ASSEMBLY AT SAID STATION FOR RECEIVING A SHELL CASING FOR ALIGNED INSERTION OF A PRIMER, COMPRISING ATTACHMENT SUPPORT MEANS, SELECTIVELY ACTUATED SLIDE MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID SUPPORT MEANS, MEANS BIASING SAID SLIDE MEANS TO ONE POSITION RETRACTED WITHIN SAID SUPPORT MEANS, ELONGATED PRIMER STORAGE MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, APERTURE MEANS FORMED IN SAID SLIDE MEANS FOR ALIGNMENT WITH SAID STORAGE MEANS WHEN THE SLIDE MEANS IS IN SAID ONE POSITION TO RECEIVE A PRIMER, ATTACHING MEANS CONNECTIBLE TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND BASE OF THE SHELL LOADER FOR FIXEDLY ALIGNING THE SLIDE MEANS WITH THE PRIMER LOADING STATION, SAID PRIMER SEATING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING RIM HAVING GUIDE MEANS SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE SLIDE MEANS FOR ACCOMMODATING EXTENSION OF THE SLIDE MEANS FROM THE ATTACHMENT SUPPORT MEANS OVER THE LOADING STATION ON THE BASE TO CARRY A PRIMER DISPOSED IN THE APERTURE MEANS INTO PROPER POSITION OVER THE SEATING ASSEMBLY, WHEREBY THE PRIMER MAY BE DEPOSITED AND PROPERLY POSITIONED WITHIN THE SEATING ASSEMBLY BEFORE BIASED WITHDRAWAL OF THE SLIDE MEANS TO SAID ONE POSITION WITHIN THE ATTACHMENT SUPPORT MEANS. 